Foot binding for water skis



3,176,328 Foor ENDING rou waren sans L' Richard D. Wallherg, Skokie, Ronald R. Johnson, Mount Prospect, Norman K. Johnson, Glenview, and Don H. Moritz and David E. Dettman, Rolling Meadows, Ill. Filed Apr. 22,1963, ser. No. 274,4s6 17 Claims. (Cl. 9-31tl) This invention relates to water skis and more specifi- `cally to a novel foot binding therefor.

The present state of the art fails to provide a readily adjustable foot holder for water skis. The user must clamp his feet to the ski runners underwater. The locking devices currently available are either cumbersome or ineifective and in general are diiicult for the average user to adjust underwater.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a novel foot binding which obviates all of the foregoing disadvantages.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a novel Afoot'clamping device which comprises a vamp portion secured to the ski runner and a heel portion adjustable toward and away with respect to the vamp portion and wherein novel, readily releasable locking means is provided for holding the heel portion in adjusted position.

y Malfunctioning is a problem in such devices as heretofore described. Dirt or sand is readily entrapped in the locking parts. The invention contemplates the 'provision of a novel foot binding in which the locking parts are self-llushing which is induced Iby the provision of channels for directing forcible flow of water through the mechanism as the skier is propelled over the water.

A different object of the invention is to provide a novel locking mechanism which incorporates a transversely llexible locking bar with end portions which, attendant to ilexing of the bar, escape over a series of teeth formed in a pair of opposing tracks which serve to guide the base of the foot holder to and from the vamp to clamping and released positions, the base providing a high pressure y chamber at one side of the bar which serves to yieldably hold the bar in secured position when the skier is planing over the water.

A still further object of the invention is to devise a vfoot clamp which is formed of plastic material having exceptional impact strength and a high yield point to obtain a bolty or locking bar structure which is durable, elastic and can withstand severe abuse and abrasion even when used in sandy or mud entrained water. One such material is sold under the trademark Delrin by the Du Pont Company.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel,

y quickly releasable locking mechanism for the foot holder, said mechanism comprising a flexible locking bar which n extends transversely of a pair of opposed tracks which extend rearwardly from the vamp and mounted therewith on the ski runner, 4the tracks having inwardly directed teeth which cooperate with the ends of the locking bar, the locking bar being located in a cavity formed in the y* base of a heel portion which base has its lateral edges guided in grooves formed in the tracks, the bar having a lost-motion connection at each end with the base plate to maintain the bar centered between the tracks.

A different object of the invention is to provide a novel locking mechanism comprising 'a flexible plastic bolt which is transversely deected by a cam to withdraw the ends of the bar from opposing locking tracks, the cam being centered with respect to the bar and the bar in locked position being substantially straight.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become more readily y apparent` from the specifications and the drawings, wherein:

3,l76,328 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 ice Description of the invention Describing the invention in detail and having particular reference to the drawings, there is shown a water ski generally designated Z which comprises a wooden runner 3 having top and bottom sides 4 and 5 and lateral edges 6 6.

Centered between the edges 6 6 there is mounted on the top side 4 of the runner, a foot clamp or holder or binding generally designated 7. The clamp 7 comprises a front vamp portion 8 and a rear heel portion 9. The vamp portion comprises a rubber or elastomer top 1t) which is bowed upwardly and tapers forwardly to receive a foot of the user within the opneing 11 in wedging relationship thereto. `The lateral edges 12, 12 of the vamp are secured by the metal strips 12', 12 by screws 13, 13 to the top 4. of the runner. The forward end 14 of the vamp is preferably open to permit extension therethrough 40 Y is open and complements the vamp in holding the users foot.

The flange 23 is secured to the top 25 of the base 20 by means of the horseshoe shaped metal strips 26', 26 and screws 27 which are threaded into Vthe plate 20.

The lateral edges 28, 28 of the base plate 20 lit into inwardly directed opposing grooves 29, 29 in guide and retaining railsk 30, 30 which comprises top and bottom flanges 31, 32 and an intervening vertical outer web 33. The rails are secured by screws 34 to the upper surface 4 Y of the runner along the lateral edges thereof lrearwardly of the vamp 8.

The web 33 is provided with a plurality ofY teeth 35 which have forwardly directed holding edges 36 and rearwardly and outwardly inclined rear ramps 37. In effect the edge 36 of each tooth and the ramp 37 of the tooth thereahead form interdental spaces 38 which admit the locking ends 39 of a flexible locking bar 40 which extends transversely between the side rails 30, 30 and extends at its end portions y39 beyond the lateral edges 28 of the base plate into any one of the spaces 38.

The locking bar or element 40 is a transversely exible 'preferably plastic member and has a at rear edge 41 which in locking position as best shown in FIGURE 4 bears at the end portions 39 against the locking edges 36 of laterally aligned teeth.

The bar or bolt 40 extends through a cavity or recess 42 in the underside 43 of the plate 20'and subdivides the same into high and low pressure chambers 44 and 45.

The endportions 39 of the bar 40 have lost-motion or floating connections generally designed. 44' with the plate 2lb to prevent excessive endwise displacement of the bar and its accidental withdrawal from the guiding apertures 45. The connections 44' comprise upstanding lugs 46 Withintheseope o f the appendedclaims.;-V l 1 on the end,V portions `3 9 ofthe b ar which enter intofslots 47 thereabove in the underside Vof the plate 20 in the thickened sections 48 thereof.VV

"The center portion Vor midpoint 49y of the -barf40vis engaged on lits at rear side/ 41 with the :Pole150 of an 52 extends vthrougha .-vertical aper ture 53 inthe plate 20 and the ...upper end of the ,pin .52 y.isfconnected to a knob eccentric y51 which is'mounted on a pin 52.' The pin,

or .other suitable .handle 52" by whichthe eccentric is;v

adapted to .be 'turned in .order to deflect orvbowthelockf to withdraw the endv portions' 39 4from the-teeth 35. The

entire heel `assembly is vadapted `tobe .moved rearwardlyv to'enlarge the space 55 between Qtheheelportion andthe lectivelyfengageable l with the locking :elementfsaldlelev vvamp portion to admit or remove the foot. By rotating the camfto lockedp'osition as. shownain solid lines in` FIGURE .4 thelocking ban is extended.V In ,this position ingrbar.forwardlyasseen in phantomiines `inFIGUR-E- y with lWaterfatten'dantuto thelski moving in the water to remove contaminants from said'lockingmeans.

2, In a foot holderffor a water ski, 'the' combination of Y a runner', a` heel engagingstructuremounted thereon including a base portion, guidemeans on the runner 1n guiding engagement Withthe'base portion, means interlocking the base portion withthe guidemeans in selected l positions, and means havingapassage in the guide means `in Huiddirecting relation to theinterlocking'means from aside ofthe guide rneans forushing said interlocking means from dirt land the. like attendant Yto the movement `ofthe s kithrough water,

Y 3. The invention according vtoclaim 2 and saidv intery locking' mea `n s comprisingka llocking element carried by after-the footis entered .into .,theva'mp, the heel assembly x isurged forwardly'with the locking bariiexing andfridingv overthe `ramps137 until theheelsupport'24 is,bronght to bear snugly against'the heel vofthe user.`

It Will be -noted that -the plate -20 -is skeletoniied `Yand i thatthe underside. ofthe plate 20 is provided With' peripheral ribbing 56 and diagonalforwardand rear ribs .57,

,58. The rear ribs `58 Iat opposite sides oftheheelpslot' l25 t v. ski rearwardly ofjthe vamp, a' b'a'seplate therebetween 21' converge rearwardlyand form v`the forwardv *marginsy `of channels? 59 .which at theirforw'ardlopen ends 60 com-y municaterwith forwardly directed inlet passages 61 vformed inthe .bottom'angesiSZ- of the sideirailstl. Thepassages extend from the outer sides.62 of thebottomhang'e to the inner side- 63 `thereof and ,anglejrearwardly thefbasepportion, toothed 'means lon the guide means sementdisposed athwarty said pa'ssage.

" v'/Jp'lfhe invention according to /claimZ and said'interlocking means' comprising al locking element,l said base portion havinga cavity communicating with Athe passage and receiving .the locking element.. therein, said element vsubdividing Vthe cavity into high andflovv pressure charnbersQ '."5, 1 In fa ski, vja fieiribel. vamp secured' to ,the upper, surface of the ski, a pair oftoothed.raclsfmounted.on the s lidably interiockedjherewith,a heel support secured to the baseplate, ae'xibleiocvking barfloatingly'supported The rear'endsof-channeIs 59'communicateyvith'thefi high pressure chamberf4 4 and deliver Water'thereto undexjv pressure,developedbylhe -skirushing through the-.watten -It will-berreal'ized that in Workingthellocking baritvv tends to-takea forwardly bowedset.y T helpressure ofthe which functionsas abaie, isdet'erminedlby its` properties Wardly of the end portions 5 39Qto permit iiexing o fj the water-inchamber 4S against'theforward.sideliofthe i* bar tends to: straighten the bar. The depth, ,that is Vthe VerticalV and horizontal .'thickness, :of .the bar, 40 and the, pressure required,tostraightenthegbar. Ityvill be noted..that the aperturesnor lslots 47 .are Yrelieved forbar-andto prevent binding.; The underside 66'ofithe lock-vr ing bar providesan exit'fpa'ssage 67 with theu'ppersideA p V455 of the runner from Vthe chamber :44 ,to the .low pressure 68. The ribs 68 converge .rearwardlyv and develop anfeXitQf openingg70.4 f, g 'It Will be apparent Ythat Y any sand; or dirtentrapped in i the mechanism will be 4Washed- ,away and that the locking l `boltismaintained in .locking position.

, The bass zo and the ha; 4o as wen asin@ sid pans so` i are preferably vmade `of'aV` plasticjrnaterial sold underthe trademark fDelrinr Whichis'v anvw acetyl; kresin and fmore particularly a polyoxymethylenefwhich means thatit ,-isA l principally made upofrecurring Cl-I2() units@ The material -is more adequatelydescribedfin U.S,` .Patent 2,768,994jissuedtoi-R. N.{ MacDonald on, Octoberfso, 1956. -Th'e materialpossesses lproperties* offhigh impact vides Vflexibility/.and greatly,resistslabrasionand.wear 'due Vvtothe action ofsandand grit Awashing Ythroughithe parts.'V .fHavingdescribedl alpre'ferred yform 'of the inven tion', 1it"A vwill beunderlstood thatvariou's other forms ofthe invention.; Will befreadily apparent to .tho

What is clarnedfis:

.1.1In afoot binding fora from'thie base plate and lhaving end v portions Aprojecting into lthe racksffsaidbanelongated-:transversely ofthe racks,

Acam means on thefbaseplatejinovable to'y aposition bow-Y .ingA said .hartoiwith'drawfthe end portions vfrom the. racks ia'lostfmotion'conneotion between each endT portion of the nal and transverseI movement of the bar.

AySli 'Iban and the base platge acommodating limited,longitudisloft therein;A a heel assembly including va ,support .plate jslidablev forwardly,andV rearwardly/,zin .s aid-v Slo-tapa'. sftraight` llockingfbar mounted beneath saidplate extendingsubstantially' perpendicularly j of the g tracks l and `having` end portionsrprojecting into the.. slo tsfin 'respective tracks, f teeth onthetrackswithin the slots,; said `bar being flexi- .gble attendantjtov movementV of the plate for escaping over the teeth Vin'l theV plate y:moving forwardly and lockingyvith theteeth to 5 prevent movement: ofV the plate rearwardly,

andl cam means on the .plate in engagement with-the lbar for bowing the; bar whereby .withdrawing the end portions from' theslots anddisengaginfg.thejbar from the teeth -to ,permit rearward movement of the'plategsaid ca 'rn .Y'vrneansabutingly engaging the bar, andfsa'id barfreely movable Ylengthvriseand transversely al'nig, avvay andtoward said cam means.

7."A ski harness-.for-holdingafootl in ,place on a ski 55,V

.of thelfootmaybe inserted, Vaheel engaging'exible yhaving ak forward portion .under which thetoe `and instep ficovering, .a slide, plate; carrying [said. lcovering mounted 601 strength, durability.andcarrbe readily molded; It pro-j f' for movement longitudinally iny vrespect. toljthe v`i'o0"t,:. a 4 pair of slidefgibsfembracinfg theside edges of theA plate fforf-holdingitagainst` movement exceptpgalong the lon# gitnjdinal axis of Vthe' harness,VV and means forrestraining movementtof the slide plate Yin, arearward direction'lon- Y gitndinally with respectllto;the forward fportion, .isaid ,Y Vmeans lincluding an Y elongated. flexible locking mernbe r extending!transversely fof vthe slide plate, saidr member havin-g` a straight length substantially equal to the vdistance betyveen1the'gibs soyast be engageable Witheach l vof thegibs, ,andf l actuator meansfpivotally mounted ion l'thefgslivde :plate "atthegcenter )of y the in engagement therewith,said gibs, ,plate and Ymember, "bein'gnmade 'of'.plastic said locking member hayingl only touching VV"engagement ,with the actuator VAmeans and. floating with v respectnthereto.

j" s. Thsinvemion according to claimj and'gsaiasiigis .Comprising .ajrunnsrfte reeinnsmeans 011 the runner, trackson the runner, ,each ytrackjproviding ,ar

thereagainst.

on, means for slidably locking the slide plate to a ski comprising an elongated locking bar extending generally parallel to the plate widthwise thereof, a lost motion connection between each end portion of the bar and said plate and comprising slots in the plate elongated lengthwise of the bar and lugs on the end portions loosely tting into a respective one of said slots.

11. A slide plate for a ski harness comprising a top and bottom, a heel-embracing structure mounted upon the top, said bottom being formed with a pair of laterally open water-inlet channels and a chamber rearwardly of the channels in communication therewith, and having a Water discharge outlet rearwardly thereof.

12. The combination according to claim 11 and a ilexible locking bar within said chamlber subdividing the same into high and low pressure areas, and serving as a bathe for directing water passing through the chambers laterally toward the ends of said member.

13. The invention according to `claim l1 and a ilexible locking bar in said chamber, a cam structure mounted upon said slide plate rearwardly of the bar in abutment therewith and adapted to bow the bar forwardly attendant to unlocking the Ibar, and said bar being held against the cam structure by pressure of water impinging `14. The invention according to claim 1l and said slide plate being made of Delrin."

15. In a Water ski harness for a ski comprising a runner, ltoe holding means on the runner, an adjustable heel-em- Ibracing structure on the runner, said structure comprising a base plate and a pair of gibs anking said plate and having slots receiving lateral edge portions of the plate therein, locking means comprising a combined baille and locking exible element mounted to the plate and thaving end portions extending into said slots, teeth on the gibs cooperating with the locking element for holding the base plate in selected adjusted positions, and means on the structure for directing water against said combined baffle and locking element attendant to passage of the ski ovler water for ilushing grit and the like from the locking means.

16. The invention according to claim l5 wherein said element is disposed crosswise of the direction of movement of the ski and comprising unlocking means on the base plate disposed behind said flexible element and holding said element against deeotion in a rearward direction in opposition to uid pressure developed against the forward side of the bar.

17. The invention according to claim l5 wherein said element is interposed between the base plate and the runner and said means for directing water against said element comprise water passages in the base plate diverging forwardly and having inlets in the gibs for the passages.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,970,325 2/61 Moline 9--310 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FOOT BINDING FOR A WATER SKI, THE COMBINATION OF A RUNNER, A VAMP AND A HEEL STRUCTURE MOUNTED THEREON, SAID HEEL STRUCTURE INCLUDING A HEEL RECEIVING PORTION AND A BASE THEREFOR, MEANS FOR LOCKING THE BASE IN SELECTED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE VAMP, AND WATER FLOW DIRECTING MEANS ON THE HEEL STRUCTURE FOR FLUSHING SAID LOCKING MEANS WITH WATER ATTENDANT TO THE SKI MOVING IN THE WATER TO REMOVE CONTAMINANTS FROM SAID LOCKING MEANS. 